Director, Employment Law

NYC Department of Finance (DOF) is responsible for administering the tax revenue laws of the city fairly, efficiently, and transparently to instill public confidence and encourage compliance while providing exceptional customer service.

DOF’s Legal Affairs Division serves as the in-house legal department for DOF, providing professional and comprehensive legal advice and services supporting a full range of city tax and other revenue-related matters. Legal Affairs Division attorneys and staff handle various legal issues, including real property taxes and exemptions, business income and excise taxes, collections, parking violations, treasury, land registry, Conciliation Bureau conferences, FOIL, and employment law.

Legal Affairs is seeking a Director of Employment Law with legal experience in labor and employment law to serve as primary counsel on agency labor, employment, EEO and other employee and workplace related matters.

As part of Legal's team of directors, the Director will provide important legal advice and services on a wide range of employment related matters. The Director will respond to EEO, and workplace related complaints filed with federal, state, and local agencies, and provide legal counsel to executive staff and managers throughout the agency. Areas of responsibility will include labor and employment law, conflict of interest, civil service, hiring and personnel matters, FMLA and accommodation requests, EEO and other employee and workplace issues.

Reporting to the Assistant Commissioner of Legal Affairs, the selected candidate will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

- Fully manage Legal's investigation and responses to EEO and employment related complaints filed with federal, state, and local human rights agencies in a timely and thorough manner. Independently draft position statements and other required documents to represent the agency. Handle all phases of the administrative process and coordinate with DOF operating divisions.
- Coordinate with the Law Department and provide support in investigating and defending litigation filed in court and serve as the primary Law Department contact for labor and employment and other litigation matters.
- Advise DOF managers and executives on complex employment related issues, clearly explaining the law and recommendations.
- Represent the agency at administrative hearings and in other forums as may be needed.
- Handle inquiries from Employee Services and other DOF operating divisions.
- Research and provide guidance on conflict-of-interest matters.
- Review agency policies and communications relating to employee issues as requested.
- Respond to document and information requests including FOIL, discovery, investigation and subpoenas in employment related matters. Advise on employee related disclosability matters.
- Handle other complex issues and participate in projects assigned to Legal Affairs as needed.

Additional Information:

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

This position may be eligible for remote work up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program agreed between the City and the Collective Bargaining Unit representing employees serving in the civil service title.

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.